Two-Million Pesos for Palparan a PR stunt?

Rally condemning former AFP general and congressman Palparan (photo by Arikbong Bayan).

Karapatan came out with a press statement asking the Philippine government to seriously put forth effort into finding renegade general (and former Arroyo ally) Jovito Palparan:

“The reported increase to P2 million of the bounty for Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan and former Gov. Joel Reyes is an exercise in futility unless the Aquino government genuinely resolves to go after and arrest these notorious rights violators and make accountable even those who are protecting them such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines and possibly, powerful politicians and businesses. Who can be most obvious coddlers of these criminals than the institutions which benefitted from their heinous acts?”

Thus said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, on the Malacanang announcement to increase the bounty for Palparan and the Reyeses.

“This is starting to look like another PR stunt of Malacañang, to make it appear that it is doing something to arrest these fugitives; unless Aquino orders the AFP to produce Palparan. Wag na tayong maglokohan pa at paikut-ikutin ang mga biktima at kanilang mga pamilya. The Filipino people and the victims need justice,” she commented.

Karapatan said such acts manifest Aquino’s to end impunity in the country, “not only are these criminals free but they also get promotions and rewarded with plum positions as in the case of the military officials charged by six of the Morong 43 health workers for their illegal arrest, torture and detention.”